Barrel-filling apparatus.



F. L. SHELOR.

BARREL FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED FEILZ1 I916.

1,230,334. Patented June 19,191?

2 SHEEIS SHEET I.

Witnesses Inventor Attorneys F. L. SHELOR,

BARREL FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, l9l6.

1,230,334. Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Zfl

Z5 -x-Z11; Z7 1 R 5% j 1E: 24 2 j A ag Inventor N wzmm by W.

Attorneys Witnesses oration.

FREDERICK LYNN SHELOE, OF SALEM, vmemm.

Banana-FILLING arrsna'ruis.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June in, rear.

Application filed February 2, 1916. Serial No. 75,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LYNN SHELOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Barrel Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to barrel filling apparatus, and aims to provide a novel and improved apparatus of that character using either a vacuum or gravity feed for supplying the liquid into the barrel.

The present apparatus embodies a novel structure having a pair of concentric nozzles projectible through the bung hole of a barrel, and means engageable within the bung hole for fastening the structure in place, and to provide a iiuid tight seal for the bung hole, in order that when the air is sucked from the barrel, by way of one nozzle, the tendency to create a vacuum within the barrel will suck the liquid thereinto, or if the gravity system is used, the liquid in fiowing into the barrel by way of one nozzle will displace the air through the other nozzle.

The present apparatus also has improved details of construction, to enhance the utility and efiiciency thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the inventlon.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus using the vacuum feed, portions being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, portions being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form or" apparatus using the gravity feed, portions being broken away and shown in section Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical section of the nozzle structure.

Fig. 5 is a reduced horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

The nozzle structure embodies a T-shaped joint. A second nozzle 6 projects coricen- I trically .or axially through the nozzle 4., and is provided with longitudinal radial ribs or spacers 7 secured in any suitable manner to the nozzle 4, whereby the two nozzles are fastened together. The ends of the nozzle 6 project beyond the ends of the outer nozzle and the upper end of the inner nozzle 6 has an enlarged tapered or frusto-conical portion 8 fitted within the tapered or frusto-conical aperture 9 of a coupling or connection 10 threaded into the upper end of the head 1. It will be noted that the ribs 7 of the nozzle 6 being secured to the nozzle 4 will result in the inner nozzle 6 being carried by the outer nozzle 4:, whereby the outer nozzle in threadedly engaging the head or fixture 1 will hold the inner nozzle'in place. .Attached to the coupling 10 is a pipe 11 disposed above and parallelwith the pipe 3, and said pipe 11 is provided witha manually operable gate valve 12, or with any other suitable valve. The pipe 3 has an upper pet cock 13, and a glass or transparent tube 14:

has its ends engaged through suitable packings in the upper portion of the pipe 3 and one side of the head or casing 1 above the nipple 2.

An annular valve 15- is slidable upon the nozzle 6 within the head 1 and is seatable upon the upper end of the nozzle 4, to close the annular space between the nozzles, thereby providing a check valve, and a guide ring 16 is slldable upon the nozzle 6 above the valve 15 and is connected thereto by.

too

upon the nozzle 4 and bearing against the lower smaller end of the cone. The upper end of the nut has an annular flan e or lip 21 overlapping the smaller end cone, to assist in providing a fluid tight joint. The upper end of the cone 18 has an outturned annular flange 22 upon which is secured a llat ring 23 by means of screws or otherwise, and said ring 23 is provided with outstanding handles The cone 18 can be detached from the hand wheel or ring 23 when the cone is worn out, to be replaced by new one, it being a simple matter to remove the cone when the nut 20 is screwed on of the nozzle 4. The cone 18 can be threaded within the bung hole H of barrel .B, when desired, or when it is desired to slip the device into the bung hole, a metallic tapered hand or sleeve :26 is threaded upon the cone 18, and has secured upon its periph cry a tapered gasket 27 of suitable material to provide a tight fit when the gasket is forced downwardly into the bung hole. Thus, the cone 18 can be screwed downwardly into the bung hole, to secure the device in place, and to seal the bung hole, or the band 26 can be screwed upon the cone, in order that the gasket 27 can he slipped downwardly within the bung hole, to close the bung hole tightly. When the cone is threaded into the bung hole, it will not destroy the bung hole, but will even provide a better fit for the stopper. he handles enahlethe device to be manipulated con v-.niently. f

When the apparatus is used with the vacuum teed, as illustrated in ig. l, a hose or pipe 28 is connected to the pipe 11 and extends into the liquid supply tank or reservoir 29. A second hose or pipe 30 is connected to the pipe 3 and extends through the top of a trap vessel 31, preferably disposed at a higher level than the tank 29, and a pipe or hose also extends through the top of the vessel 31 and communicates with a suc- 'tion pump A vertical tube 34 extends through the top of the vessel 31, and has its upper and closed, but is provided adjacent its upper end with a lateral opening 36 nor mally closed by a sleeve valve 37 slidable upon the tube The upper end of a stain or rod 38 which extends within the tube 5 3 is secured to the valve 37 through the open-- ing 38, and a float 39 is attached to the lower end of the stem 38, the valve 37 being normolly closed due to the weight of the float 39. A pipe 40 connected to the bottom of the vessel 31, communicates with the tank :29, and is provided with a normally closed valve ll, which can be opened for draining any liquid within the vessel 31 back into the tank Now, when the pump 33 is in up eratiou, the air suction extends into the n sel 3i and hose 30, and from the hose 30 the suction extends through the pipe 3 into the head 1 and nozzle 4. When the double nozzle is inserted into the bung hole of the barrel, so that the bung hole is sealed, as above indicated, the air in being sucked from the barrel by way of the nozzle at will tend to create a vacuum within the barrel, and this will suck the liquid from the tank through the hose 28, pipe 11 and nozzle 6. When the level of the liquid within the barrel reaches the lower end of the air suction nozzle 4, no more air can be sucked from the barrel, and this provides for air space or chamber within the barrel, wher by the expansion and contraction of the barrel or its contents, is not apt to rupture the barrel. hould the suction be continued after the barrel is tilled, the liquid will be sucked out out the barrel through the nozzle and Will flow through the hose or pipe 30 into the vessel 31, the surplus liquid being caught or trapped with in said vessel, so that it will not How to the pump When the vessel 31 becomes filled with liquid up to a certain level, the float is raised, thus raising the sleeve valve 3'? and uncovering the opening 36. This allows air to tlow into the vessel 31 from the atmosphere, to break the vacuum, since air will flow from the tube 35 directly into the pipe 32 connected to the pump 33., and the air suction will no longer extend through the hose 30 to any appreciable extent. The vessel 31 can be drained or emptied from time to time, by opening the valve ll, so that the liquid will dew back into the supply tank 29, thereby eliminating waste. As soon as the nozzle structure is detached from the barrel, air can flow into the nozzle 4 from the atmosphere, and this prevents the suc tion extending into the hose 28 so that the flow of liquid is stop. ed instantly. As soon as the device is app led to the next barrel, the bung hole in being sealed, will immediately start the flow of liquid due to the tendency to create a vacuum within the barrel, as above indicated.

With the vacuum system, the valve 12, pet cook 13 and tube 1% need not be used, but if they are present they are not objectionable.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3, uses the gravity feed of the liquid, the liquid supply tank 29' being elevated, and the hose or pipe 28 connecting the pipe 11 with the lower portion of the tank 29. The hose or pipe 38 which is connected to the pipe 3 extends up over the tank 29 and thence downwardly therein. When the double nozzle is not applied to the barrel, the valve 12 is closed, the same being preferably of such a character that it can be closed and opened quickly. The check valve is also normally seated, to prevent the low of liquid. from e hose 30 pipe downwardly into e nozzle l. Then, wh .e double is applied to the valve the barrel is filled, the liquid will flow into the nozzle 4 and pipe 3, and will also rise into the tube 14 where it can be observed, this acting as an indication that the barrel is filled, or the pet cook 13 can be opened in order to providea test to determine whether the barrel is filled or not. If the barrel is filled, liquid willflow out of the. pet cock, and if not, it is an indication that the barrel is not yet filled. my liquid flowing into the 'hose 30 will be forced back into the tank 29, the liquid being mixed with the air ifthe liquid foams, so that the foam can be forced back into thetank without dificulty. When the barrel isv filled, the valve 12 is elosed,'thus shutting off the-flow of. liquid, and the check valve '15 seats automatically'to preventthe flow of any liquid within the pipe 3 and head 1 back into the barrel, although any 1 liquid within the nozzle 4 below the valve 15. will flow back intothe barrel as the double nozzle is detached from the barrel. The nozzle structure can then be appliedto the succeeding barrel, and when the valve-12 is opened, the

' columnof liquid within the hose 28" and accompanying parts being of greater height than any possible column of liquid within the hose 30, will start the flow of the liquid in the proper direction from the tank through the hose 28' and nozzle 6. Furthermore, the check'valve 15 prevents the retrograde flow of the liquid within the hose 30'.

One of the most useful features of the apparatus, is the ability to handle very foamy liquids in an entirely satisfactory manner wlthout any loss of time. Take for example, tanning extract made from chestnut wood, the nature of which extract is very foamy, when filling barrels with the' liquid mder ordinary conditions through an ordinary nozzle provided with a' valve shut off, the extract flowing into the barrel at the bung hole and falling from the upper portion to the lower part of the barrel, agitates the liquid and causes a great amount of foam. Verv often after the barrel is less than half full ofliquid, foam will run out of the bung hole around the nozzle and continue to do so until the barrel is full, the

quantity of foam constantly increasing throughout the operation, and as the average foam is about five percent. liquid, a great amount of liquid is lost in this manner, and

if the loss of foam is avoided during the process of filling, it is necessary to shut off the flow of liquid as soon as there is indication of foam running out around the nozzle.

It is necessary to pound vigorously on the 5 outside of the barrel with a heavy mallet or other suitable implement, for jarrmg the barrel, to the extent that it will break a part of the accumulated foam after whlch the supply of liquid can again be turned on .70

and left running until foam appears again, when it is necessary to shut off and repeat the pounding operation. With the present dev1c'e,-the1nozzle seals the bung hole perfectly tight, and as soon as the foam reaches the suct1on1 nozzle, the foam will pass out through and will be caught inthe trap or. jar 31, thereby eliminating all waste, avoiding the running of the foam down the outside of the barrel onto the floor. Any liquid which is left in" the pipe or tube 30- or 30' will be converted into foam'by the flow of air, thus providing a light mixture of liquid and air, which will be lighterthan the liquid in the supply line so that the foam will pass readily into the trap or jar.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1. A filling apparatus embodying an upright T-shaped head, av depending nozzle threaded to the lower end thereof, a coupling threaded within the upper end of said head and having a tapered aperture, and a second nozzle extending through and sup ported by the first mentioned nozzle" and having a taperedportion at its upper end fitted within said tapered aperture.

2. A filling apparatus embodying an up: right head having an opening between its ends, a depending outer nozzlehaving its upper end engaged within the lower end of the head, a second nozzle projecting through the aforesaid nozzle and having its'upper end connected to the upper end of the head,

and an annular valve slidableupon the in- I ner nozzle and seatable upon the upper end of the outer noz l I In testimony that I claim the' foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK LYNN SHELOR. v Witnesses:

JNO. T. BARNS, B. P. Samoa. 

